USM Board of Regents Staff Awards
The represent the highest honor bestowed by the Board of Regents for achievements of exempt and non-exempt staff employees from institutions within the University System of Maryland.
Congratulations TU Finalists!
Andrew Rosenblum, Natasha Sweitzer, Tammie King-Kelly, Lauren Meredith, and Michael
Franklin
Award Criteria
For Non-Exempt Staff
The non-exempt staff nominee’s achievements should focus on the impact the individual has on their department, institution, or community within one of the award categories specifically for non-exempt staff listed below:
Excellence in Performance
This award highlights exceptional work specific to their position or department, demonstrated
by effectiveness in job performance, resulting in significant contributions to their
department's goals.
Recipients of this award should: consistently meet/exceed expectations, display a
high level of professionalism, and set a benchmark for quality and excellence within
their field.
Making a Difference to the Campus
This award showcases individuals who have impacted the broader campus community, reaching
outside of their department
This could include contributions such as: improving the campus environment, fostering
cross sectional collaboration, enhancing student life, or initiating successful projects
that benefit the campus as a whole.
Acting as a Role Model
This award recognizes individuals who not only embody admirable qualities and behaviors
but also actively engage in formal or informal mentoring.
This person should: embody the values and standards of the organization, inspire colleagues
through their actions and attitude, and positively influence the workplace culture.
Excellence as a Team Player
This award celebrates an individual who demonstrates the following: outstanding collaboration,
communication, and support within a team.
Recipients are those who go above and beyond to foster a positive work environment,
contribute to collective goals, and uplift their peers. They strive in showcasing
a commitment to the success of the entire team rather than just personal achievements
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
This award highlights a staff member who has put forth effort to create an environment
where all employees feel valued, respected, and supported, regardless of their cultural
background, ethnicity, gender, or other personal attributes.
Recipients of this award are those who actively promote multicultural understanding,
equitable practices, and a sense of belonging emphasizing the importance of diverse
perspectives in achieving common goals.
For Exempt Staff
The exempt staff nominee's success should extend above and beyond their full-time professional responsibilities, showcasing significant impact on their department, institution, or community. These awards emphasize the quality of the nominee's contributions beyond their position description and the measurable impact of their exceptional efforts within one of the award categories specifically for exempt staff listed below:
Exceptional Contribution to the Institution and / or Unit to which the peron belongs
- A creative and implemented approach to process improvements
- Original idea that contributed to the success of the unit/institution
- A Staff employee who is in a non-leadership position that provided leadership, team
building and/or facilitated a team or project that enhanced the organization
- A Staff employee in a leadership position that consistently grows their organization
by mentoring and growing each of their subordinates
Outstanding Service to Students in an academic or residential environment
- Consistently makes a difference and impact in student lives
- Contributed to an innovative, original idea that implemented and transformed an aspect
of the student experience
Extraordinary Public Service to the university or the greater community
- A personal dedication to a project or cause that definitively improved the greater
community
- A Staff employee of the USM community who throughout the employee's career has, in
a collaborative and sustained manner, made a difference in the larger community
- Sustained record of service over a period of years carried out through the individual’s
role(s) in the University system rather than as a private citizen
Effectiveness and Efficiency regarding an academic or administrative transformation with a savings of $10,000 or more
To publicly recognize exemplary ideas that, when implemented, will serve to further the University System of Maryland’s goal to continually increase the effective and efficient use of its resources. One award from the listed categories may be made for an exemplary initiative that has the potential to be implemented system wide.
Academic Transformation
Improved learning and a minimum cost savings of $10,000.00
Administrative Transformation
Improved effectiveness and efficiency resulting in a minimum cost savings of $10,000.00
In addition to the existing application procedures, the nominee’s packet needs to
include:
- A brief description of the innovative initiative
- Potential benefits
- Magnitude (single/multiple institutions or system-wide)
- Effectiveness and efficiency to be attained (including estimated cost and/or resource savings)
Award recipients may be invited to address the Board.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
This award salutes the outstanding work of a USM staff member in their ability to build, nurture, and advance inclusion, multiculturalism, and social justice practices within their community. Their community may be comprised of their internal institutional community, their external institutional community, or a combination of the two.
Review criteria include outcomes, including, but not limited to:
- Community engagement in diversity dialogue and education
- Examination and modification of current practices of one’s department/institution that supports inclusion
- Implementation of initiatives that foster inclusion, multiculturalism, and social justice
Along with recognition, final award recipients receive a $2,000 stipend from the USM Board of Regents and all Towson University finalists are honored by the TU president with a $1,000 stipend.
Eligibility
- Any employee or student may nominate a staff employee with the knowledge and consent of the nominee. Staff employees may also nominate themselves.
- Nominee must be a Staff employee of the University System of Maryland community, including all Staff employees in Regular and Contingent II status.
- Nominee must be employed with the USM for at least five (5) consecutive years and at TU as of October 31, 2024. Recipients of the awards must be employed at TU at the time the award recipient names are announced.
- Chancellor, Presidents, Officers, and Senior Leadership are not eligible. At TU this applies to any staff employee ranked as Vice President or above.
Submit a Nomination
Using the links below, download the forms needed to submit a nomination. Initial nominations are due by 10 p.m. on Monday, December 9, 2024, and must include a partially completed cover sheet, a completed and signed position description, and a nomination letter.
Send all three items as a single PDF document to BORStaffAwards AT_TOWSON
Well-qualified nominations will be invited to participate further after review by the TU Staff Senate Awards Committee.
Cover Sheet Non-Exempt Nominee (PDF)
Cover Sheet Exempt Nominee (PDF)
Position Description Form Non-Exempt Nominee (PDF)
Position Description Form Exempt Nominee (PDF)
Nomination Letter Template (WORD)
Recommendation Letter Template (WORD)
Past TU Recipients and Nominees
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
- Lauren Tigue Meredith (2025)
- Natasha Sweitzer (2025)
Effectiveness & Efficiency in Administrative or Academic Transformation
- Anthony Rosas (2023) - Recipient
- Jackie Gabrielian (2022) - Recipient
- Julie Leary (2021) - Recipient
- George Kram III (2018)
- George Kram III (2017)
- Marcie Weinstein (2015)
- Marcie Weinstein (2014)
- Steve Kolb (2013) - Recipient
- Louise Miller (2012)
- Barb Neal (2011)
Excellence in Performance
- Andrew Rosenblum (2025)
Exceptional Contribution to the Institution and/or Unit
- Michael T. Franklin (2025)
- Kathryn Knaus (2023)
- Felicity Knox (2022) - Recipient
- Bobby Zengel (2021)
- Kelly Ward (2021)
- Debra Phillips (2020) - Recipient
- Teresa Hardin (2019)
- Teresa Hardin (2018)
- John McKusiak (2017)
- Karen Fulton (2016)
- Jackie Gratz (2016)
- Rick Walsh (2015)
- Susan Willemin (2014)
- Susan Weininger (2013) - Recipient
- Felicity Knox (2013)
- Jeffrey Klupt (2012)
- Anne Dahne (2012)
- Donna Guillot (2011)
- Barbara Hufnagel (2011)
- Gail Price (2010)
- Louise Miller (2010)
- Marilyn Dannefelser (2009)
- Samuel Hannigan (2009)
- Susan Turnbaugh (2007)
- Jeffrey Klupt (2007)
- Francine Musotto (2006)
- Patricia Atkinson (2006)
- Cyndi Zimmerman (2004) - Recipient
- Angela Rehrmann (2004)
- Warren Riefner (2004)
- Deborah Leather (2004)
- Laurie Jones (2004)
Extraordinary Public Service to the University and/or Community
- Henry O. Jackson (2024) - Recipient
- Karen Pottash (2023)
- Patricia Watson (2021) - Recipient
- Antwaine Smith (2020) - Recipient
- Antwaine Smith (2019)
- Jackie Durbin (2018)
- Greg Primrose (2017)
- Katie Simmons-Barth (2016) - Recipient
- Greg Primrose (2016)
- Randy Peaker (2015)
- Bobbie Laur (2015)
- Jayne French (2014) - Recipient
- Bobbie Laur (2014)
- Susan Willemin (2013)
- Heather Sorensen (2012)
- Gail Price (2012) - Recipient
- Bernie Gerst (2011)
- Karen Fulton (2010)
- Bernie Gerst (2010)
- James Spivack (2009)
- Randy Peaker (2009)
- James Spivack (2006)
- Gail Price (2006)
- Nance Reed (2004)
- Susanna Craine (2004)
Inclusion, Multiculturalism and Social Justice
- Cynthia M. Baker (2024)
- Mary K. Stapleton (2023)
- Jennifer Stano (2022)
- Jennifer Stano (2021)
- Jayne French (2019) - Recipient
- Susan Willemin (2018) - Recipient
Outstanding Service to Students in an Academic or Residential Setting
- Tammie King-Kelly (2025)
- Tammie King-Kelly (2024)
- Liz Shearer (2022)
- Liz Shearer (2021)
- Marjorie Tversky (2019)
- Kanji Takeno (2017)
- Jeannie Mauldin (2016)
- Lisa Simmons-Barth (2014)
- Jeffrey Klupt (2013) - Recipient
- Pat Szymezak (2013)
- Tracy Miller (2012) - Recipient
- Mary Mauldin (2012)
- Patricia Frawley (2011)
- Stephanie Fowler (2010)
- Raft Woodus (2009) - Recipient
- Mary Leeper (2009) - Recipient
- Barbara Neal (2006)